Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work

The University of Georgia PhD Program in Social Work provides the professional social worker the opportunity to gain advanced training in scientific research and program evaluation skills, for the purposes of developing knowledge that promotes social justice. The mission of the PhD Program draws upon two important areas of concern to the profession of social work: evidence-based knowledge about human behavior and social problems, and the applications of such knowledge through practice. Recognizing that MSW education is designed to prepare practitioners for our field, the emphasis of the PhD Program is upon the development and dissemination of evidence-based knowledge to undergird effective practice throughout the profession.

The Ph.D. Program at the UGA School of Social Work began in 1990 and has produced over 90 graduates, most of whom have gone on to assume academic, research or administrative positions. The program prepares social work professionals for careers in academic research settings and for practice in program evaluation and other forms of scientific research in the public and private sectors. The overall goals are to help students acquire the research skills necessary to develop original research studies that have direct applications to social work practice. In addition, we emphasize learning about teaching so that our graduates are able to provide quality instruction to the next generation of social work students.

The Ph.D. curriculum is a series of required research courses, two research practica, other courses in the School of Social Work, three courses in statistics and advised cognates taken outside the School. Ph.D. students also sign up for course hours that match the following events: Comprehensive Examinations, Prospectus Defense, and Dissertation Defense. While there has been great variance in the length of time needed to finish the program, future full-time students should plan to complete the Ph.D. Program in 3-4 years

All persons who hold or will have earned an MSW degree by the time they begin doctoral studies are eligible to apply to the PhD program, the addition of two years of post-MSW professional work experience would present a stronger application.

All applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and provide competitive scores that are no more than five years old. Please note, however, that the five-year requirement on test scores does not apply to students who received an MSW degree from UGA. There is no equivalent test or waiver for the GRE. Applicants should also have an overall undergraduate grade point average of no less than 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and an overall graduate (MSW) GPA of no less than 3.5 is also recommended.

The vita/resume, professional goals statement, scholarly writing sample and letters of recommendation should be uploaded to the Graduate School application portal when you apply.

Vita/Resume
A copy of your vita/resume is required.

Professional Goals Statement
The PhD Admissions Committee considers the personal statement to be a significant part of the application. This statement will be used to assess your writing skills, research interests and potential, career goals, and overall fit with the PhD program. The statement should be no more than 5 pages and address the following questions:

How have your unique biography, academic training, and practice experiences informed your desire and ability to pursue a PhD in social work?
What are the primary areas of research you would like to explore during your doctoral training? And, what is the significance of these lines of inquiry within social work and beyond?
What specifically attracts you to the University of Georgia social work PhD Program?
Please identify any faculty within the School of Social Work or at the University of Georgia who are well positioned to support you in exploring your research interests. If your research interests are inter- or trans-disciplinary, please articulate linkages with those other fields.
What are your career goals and how would a PhD in social work help you achieve those goals?

Are there any other factors that should be considered in the evaluation of your application?
Please organize your personal statement as a cohesive essay, rather than a list of discrete answers to the questions posed.

Scholarly Writing Sample
Applicants must submit a recent, single-authored, scholarly writing example that provides evidence of the individual's capacity to conceptually organize material in a coherent and logical manner, to write clearly and concisely calling upon prior scholarship and/or theory, and more generally to demonstrate the applicant's readiness to undertake doctoral-level work. The submission should be a clean copy (i.e., free of editorial markings.

Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must submit three recommendation letters that speak to their potential for success in the doctoral program, aptitude for research and teaching, and capacity to engage in collaborative research. Recommendations from individuals who have supervised your research and scholarly work (e.g., research project supervisors, thesis advisors, professors) tend to be the most useful during the selection process and should comprise the majority.

Minimum TOEFL score requirement: overall score of 80 with at least 20 on speaking and writing
Minimum IELTS score requirement: overall band-width of 6.5, with no single band (score) below 6.0